ClaimingRuby (12 page)

Alex doubled over with laughter. “That could have been
painful.”

Joshua rolled his shoulders. “He asked for it.”

Ruby reached for a bottle of water and admired the view,
listening to the playful banter between friends.

“So are you and my brother having sex?”

She spit water back in the bottle. “Excuse me?”

Layla shrugged. “Are you having sex?”

“Urmm…” What could she say to a teenager? “Yes, we are.”

“Good. I’m glad Joshua has someone.” Layla put her wayward
hair into a ponytail. “Heard he was dating a model a few months back. Julia
something. She looked like a real bitch.”

Ruby suppressed a chuckle. Julia was definitely a bitch. “Did
Joshua never bring Julia to meet you?”

“Nope. You must be special.”

Sincerity oozed from the girl and Ruby warmed to her. She
couldn’t believe Joshua had never taken Julia to meet his family.

“He’s a good guy. He rescued me from Afghanistan, fought to
bring me back here when I was a kid. I don’t know where I’d be without him.”
Layla pulled down her sunglasses and stared at Ruby. “He needs someone to take
care of him.”

Ruby’s chest tightened. That was why there was no
resemblance. He’d saved a girl from a war zone and given her a better life. It
couldn’t have been easy—the visa problems alone would have caused major issues,
not to mention the moral connotations of a soldier bringing home a girl. There
weren’t many people who would’ve persevered.

Joshua wasn’t like other men.

She patted Layla’s hand. “I promise to take care of him.”

Layla nodded, satisfied.

Ruby perused the guys. They had finished playing Frisbee and
were fooling around in the surf. She took off her hat and padded down to the
shoreline. As the cool water rushed over her bare feet, it refreshed her and
washed away the remnants of uncertainty. The beach trip had been exactly what
she needed. It was good to see Joshua interact with his friends and family. She
finally saw hidden depths she hadn’t known existed. It melted her heart.

She’d already been head over heels in love with Joshua Quinn
but today had cemented her trust in him.

Joshua broke the surface of the water and focused on the
goddess standing at the edge of the surf. Jesus, she was beautiful. The bikini
molded to and showcased her curves to perfection. It had taken all his resolve
not to pounce on her and tear it off with his teeth.

He hoped she and Layla got along. It was important she liked
his family. He wanted Ruby in his future. He was in it for the long haul. He
hadn’t told her since he didn’t want to scare her away. He’d been taking it
slow and steady, especially after what happened with her with Jason.

But he was getting impatient. He needed to claim her, have
her in all aspects of his life. Would she agree?

He motioned her into the waves by crooking a finger in her direction.
She waded toward him. He ached to have her wrapped around him, her hot cunt
sucking him, milking him. He’d been treating her like glass since Jason King
tried to rape her.

His blood still boiled. Fucking bastard. He couldn’t think
about what might have happened if he hadn’t turned up. If he did, he’d do
something stupid, maybe even something illegal. Right now he’d set wheels in
motion to hit Jason where it hurt—his money and his reputation. He was planning
to take over his business and when he was done, Jason King wouldn’t have a
dime.

After Ruby refused to press charges, he’d had his team leak
some tidbits to the media about Jason and his fondness for taking what he
wanted from women. No fucking way was Jason going to get away with it. Revenge really
was sweet.

It made him feel slightly better.

Ruby treaded water a few feet away from him. “Hi.”

When she flashed him a shy smile, he drew in a deep gulp of
air. He loved her but she wasn’t ready for him to admit that. Not yet.

He swam over to her and circled her in his arms. She was hot
and wet and soft. Her curves fit as if she was made for him and him alone.

“Hi.” He kissed her, feasted on her lips before asking, “How’s
Layla?”

Ruby beamed, water glistening on her lashes like pearls. “Amazing.
I really like her. She’s very sweet.”

His cock hardened as her foot brushed his thigh. He needed
inside her now. Her lips parted and he knew she was just as turned-on.

He palmed her luscious tits and flicked his thumbs over the
stiff nubs. Her low moan shot straight to his pounding dick.

“Let’s go home. I’ve got something for you,” he mumbled.

No more waiting. Tonight he was going to lay his feelings on
the line.

* * * * *

Ruby combed her hair in Joshua’s bathroom. The sun and salt
made it dry as hell. She needed to wash it but getting the tangles out first
was a priority.

She and Joshua had broken through some barriers. He’d
introduced her to his sister—an important step—but he still hadn’t uttered
those three little words that would cement it all.

She ran some conditioner through the strands to soften them
and stepped into the bedroom.

Joshua motioned to a set of clothing laid out on the bed. “I
want you to wear this tonight for me.”

She perused the soft leather corset and black silk pencil
skirt. It was something similar to what Jamie wore for her performances.

Her throat went dry. “Joshua, they are beautiful but I’m not
sure I can.”

Memories rushed to the surface but she beat them back. She
didn’t want to taint her relationship with Joshua with that night.

He tugged on her hair, pulling her head back so her neck was
exposed before swooping down and nibbling on the sensitive column of her
throat. “For me. Please. I want to banish all thoughts of them from your mind.
You’re mine, Ruby. All mine. I don’t want you thinking of anyone else.”

He nipped her skin, drew some between his teeth and sucked.
The sharp sting made her gasp.

It would leave a mark. A tiny purple bruise that branded her
as his. Need shot through her belly and pulsed between her thighs. Her core
clenched and slicked. She needed him—his touch, his marks. She needed his
dominance. She needed him to take possession of her completely.

She swallowed her doubt. “I’ll wear the outfit.”

“Address me properly,” he rumbled in her ear.

“I’ll wear the outfit, Sir.”

“Let me dress you,” he said huskily.

His sensual tone tightened her nipples. She nuzzled him. “Okay.”

He led her to the shower. Not only did he have a marble tub
but a huge walk-in shower big enough for three or four people.

He switched on the faucet and steam swirled, fogging the
glass. Heat surrounded her as Joshua flicked open the buttons on her blouse.
She watched his nimble fingers against her creamy skin as he reached inside and
plucked her sensitized buds through the satin of her bra.

She inhaled. Just one small caress and she was ready to
explode. Only he could make her feel this way—so sexual, so turned-on. He was
everything she wanted in a man but a small part of her was still reluctant to
give him her heart.

“You have such beautiful skin. Soft and tender. You mark
easily.” He pushed the shirt off her shoulders and she shrugged it to the
floor.

“Is it a good thing?” She sounded sexy and sultry. What was
she turning into? Some kind of wanton hussy?

“Yeah, it’s a good thing. It means after a session you will
wear my brand for days.” He leaned forward and unhooked her bra without any
fumbling.

She couldn’t help but goad him. The teasing felt good, as if
she was getting back to her old self. “Had lots of practice at that?”

He made a growling noise. “Maybe, but the only bra I’m going
to be removing from now on is yours.”

Butterflies danced in her stomach at his meaning.
His.
She belonged to him. His submissive. It filled her with pride. The only
question remaining was if he belonged to her.

Joshua eased down the bra straps. When he brushed her tender
nipples, she cried out. He teased her, tugged and rolled until blood rushed to
the tips and they became rosy and hard.

“Joshua…” She almost blurted out her feelings.

“Ssshh. Don’t talk. Just feel.” He unzipped her skirt and
she let it fall to the ground before stepping out of it. He smoothed her
buttocks and caressed the cleft before stepping back. “You take my breath away.”

His pants pulled taut across his groin and she practically
panted with desire. Whatever he had planned she hoped it involved his cock
stuffed down her throat. She loved pleasing him in that way—on her knees,
servicing him. It was a symbol of her love. Her acceptance of him. She trusted
him enough to hurt her. For Ruby, that was a giant leap forward.

“Take off your panties, slowly.” He began to shed his
clothes and she pouted. “Don’t act like a brat, Ruby. You won’t like the
punishment.” He threw his tie onto the floor and started to undo his cuff
links. His eyes never left her. Instead they burned a hole right through to her
soul.

“Yes Sir.” She did want to be punished but she wanted to
touch him, stroke him, feel his heat pressed against her.

She hooked her fingers in the waistband of her panties,
turned around so her ass faced him and slowly, seductively, rolled them down
her legs. As she bent, she made sure to wiggle her ass.

He muttered a simple “fuck” that drew a smile from her. He wasn’t
the only one who could tease.

She straightened and turned. He’d taken off all his clothes
and stood naked. It was her turn to drink him in. The lean torso peppered with
dark hair that led down to his impressive cock. The muscular ridges and tapered
hip bones she wanted to feast on. Hard thigh muscles that indicated strength.

He was amazing but it was his face that constantly drew her
attention—sharp lines, angular jaw, pillowy lips and eyes that drove her wild.
That owned her heart.

She stepped forward, toyed with the hairs on his chest,
tugged and laughed when his cock twitched.

He pulled her flush into him, kissed her and tangled his
tongue with hers. He walked them into the shower. As the warm water washed over
them, the kiss grew more intense. A hot, open-mouthed kiss that spoke of
possession.

His shaft bumped her thigh. It had been awhile since he’d
been inside her and she craved him, but Joshua had other ideas as he cupped her
cheeks and commanded the angle and deepness of the kiss.

He owned her completely. It scared her. Some part of her
still believed this was a fantasy with an end.

She fisted his cock, pumped up and down.

He stilled her movements and said, “Teasing. No coming.”

Ruby nodded. The water beaded on his lashes. She leaned
forward and licked them away. He tasted of salt and man. She rolled his taste
around her tongue. Perfect.

He shampooed her hair and combed through conditioner. She’d
never been so pampered or cared for. It buried into her soul.

Joshua took down the shower gel from the rack and poured
some into his hand. He massaged her skin from top to bottom, taking extra care
of her breasts, soaping the nipples and twisting them. At the sting of pain she
leaned her head back on the tiles and sighed. He washed her hips, sank to his knees
and lifted one leg onto his shoulder before massaging her foot, then toward her
thigh. Then the other leg.

No matter how much she pushed toward him, he avoided her
pussy.

He turned her around and soaped her back. Her buttocks. Heat
rose in her cheeks as he delved between her cleft, washing tenderly.

She clenched her fists at the illicit caress. Her cunt
throbbed, begged to be touched.

Finally he rubbed along her slit—slow, circular motions
until her clit hardened. Ruby gasped. Electric pulses of desire shot through
her system. She was hot in more ways than one. Her brain felt foggy. Drugged.

He stopped. She rested her forehead on the cold tile and
hoped to calm her raging hormones. He’d said no coming and she planned to obey
him.

Joshua lathered her legs with gel and drew a razor along the
contours. He shaved her and she watched with rapture. No man had ever done this
for her. He lifted her arms and gently swiped the blade under her armpits. She
suppressed a giggle.

It tickled.

The laughter faded as he massaged gel into the V of her
pussy. He stoked the fire blazing inside her. Whatever he wanted tonight, she’d
give. No doubts or questions. He dropped to his knees and shaved her with
care—first her bikini line then her mound, until all that remained was a tiny
landing strip of hair. He parted her sensitive lips and shaved her until she
was smooth.

God, how could something so functional drive her so insane?

She should have been embarrassed. Men were supposed to
believe in the mystique of a woman’s grooming ritual.

Not him. He pushed past all her boundaries and embedded
himself in every part of her life.

When he sucked on her clit for a few seconds, she jerked and
almost fell. The jolt of pleasure was so violent it nearly knocked her off her
feet.

He steadied her and said, “Careful, sweet Ruby.” He looked
like a slave on his knees, worshipping her as a goddess.

She took the shower gel and said, “My turn.”

Ruby took pleasure in bathing him, paying special attention
to the areas she’d always wanted to explore. Having unrestricted access to him
made her jump for joy. She fingered his hip bones, stroked his nipples, cupped
his balls and rolled them in her hand, testing the heavy weight. She worshiped
his feet. Eventually she stroked his cock. The gel provided a nice lubrication

“Enough.” Joshua switched off the water.

They toweled each other dry. He didn’t speak and neither did
she. Her mind raced. What did he have planned? Were they going out? Was he
inviting other people around?